Windows 10 not booting - HP laptop stuck in automatic repair mode

  • Hi there and welcome to PC Help Forum (PCHF), a more effective way to get the Tech Support you need!
    We have Experts in all areas of Tech, including Malware Removal, Crash Fixing and BSOD's , Microsoft Windows, Computer DIY and PC Hardware, Networking, Gaming, Tablets and iPads, General and Specific Software Support and so much more.

    Why not Click Here To Sign Up and start enjoying great FREE Tech Support.

    This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
Welcome to our Community
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Feel free to sign up today.
Sign up
Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dr-rockit

PCHF Member
Jul 8, 2024
6
1
52
Hi, I've got HP laptop running Windows 10 that is stuck in 'preparing automatic repair' mode pre-boot, which then goes to black screen and refuses to boot to Win 10. How do I uninstall Win 10 entirely to prepare for completely new install? Looking at Linux distros. I don't need to back up data as I have backups already so losing data not an issue. I've just never had to do this before.


Checked the System Diagnostics from HP Startup Menu and done a hard drive and memory test and everything looks okay. I just need some advice on deleting Win 10 entirely to install new OS.
 
Hello

You can just leave that OS there find the Linux OS you want and it should just write over the existing OS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xrobwx71
Oh, so booting from a USB drive will install Linux on my HD and remove Win 10?

I've seen posts on other forums that suggest the way Windows is set up is to primarily boot from Windows, and that I might need to remove that boot file to change the boot order.
 
Are there any problems with just overwriting using a Linux distro - are there likely to be any hangovers from Win 10?

I won't be going back to Windows after this and I want to make sure any install I do is clean without any Windows-related issues due to legacy files
 
dr-rockit said:
Oh, so booting from a USB drive will install Linux on my HD and remove Win 10?

I've seen posts on other forums that suggest the way Windows is set up is to primarily boot from Windows, and that I might need to remove that boot file to change the boot order.
Click to expand...
I've changed the link to installing since you missed it on the left side of the page at the original link.

dr-rockit said:
are there likely to be any hangovers from Win 10?
Click to expand...
No
 
  • Like
Reactions: dr-rockit
Closing – no activity.
To request a re-open, go to Members > Staff Members, click a Staffer then Start Conversation and quote thread name.
 
Many thanks. I wondered if there is any way to find my licence key or serial number for Windows?

Quite a few posts mention the benefits of dual booting Windows and Linux, but the state my laptop is in now it won't boot to Windows. Is there any way to find out what it is so I can at least do a reinstall of Windows and then partition the drive to install Linux.

What I'm getting when I power up is the laptop goes into repair mode, tries to recover and boot but doesn't manage it. I either get a blank screen, or the other day the recovery screen turned a bright shade of blue and looked distorted, kind of like a compromised video signal. Can I use the BIOS or some other method to locate the key/serial?
 

Find your Windows product key - Microsoft Support

Learn how to find a Windows product key for activation, and when you'll use a digital license instead.
support.microsoft.com support.microsoft.com

or
1. Open a new Notepad window
2. Copy and paste the following text into the window



Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))

Function ConvertToKey(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
x = 14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255
Cur = Cur Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x >= 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i >= 0
ConvertToKey = KeyOutput
End Function

3. Click File > Save As (all files not .txt) and save the file to your desktop as productkey.vbs It's important to include the .vbs extension because this is a Windows Scripting Host file.
4. Close Notepad and double-click the file. Wait a few seconds, and then you will be presented with a popup displaying your product key:

I tested and it works.

Source
 
To get your Windows Product Key, you can use Rob's way above, and there are programs that claim to get it, but in reality, you shouldn't need to.
If you already had Windows on that laptop then Microsoft already knows about you.
Just reload it and when it goes to be activated, it'll find you again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xrobwx71
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom